Also don't just look at formulas, there's also different ways to mulch/companion plant to help this kind of thing out. I can't really advise how yet because I'm just starting to look into myself, but it's an idea.

I use different methods depending on the plant and the bug, but neem oil is awesome on pretty much everything. We keep a spray bottle of water with red pepper flakes in it, and spray down all the things that squirrels and birds like to eat. It also seems to help keep the aphids off the kale and broccoli.

_________________my roommate spilled tuna juice on the bathroom floor while he was eating on the toilet! should i bleach the floor or just tear up the tile? - acrVegan Coloradical

I use different methods depending on the plant and the bug, but neem oil is awesome on pretty much everything. We keep a spray bottle of water with red pepper flakes in it, and spray down all the things that squirrels and birds like to eat. It also seems to help keep the aphids off the kale and broccoli.

be careful with the neem! it kills everything including the beneficial predators and the pollinators!xokittee

_________________Cake Maker to the Starspakupaku"Stupid society. I'm gonna go put on bikini kill."~Susie Tofu Monster"Kittee is wise. Listen to Kittee."~Aruna--> the PPKr currently known as mumbaikar

I use different methods depending on the plant and the bug, but neem oil is awesome on pretty much everything. We keep a spray bottle of water with red pepper flakes in it, and spray down all the things that squirrels and birds like to eat. It also seems to help keep the aphids off the kale and broccoli.

be careful with the neem! it kills everything including the beneficial predators and the pollinators!xokittee

Yes! I should have said that we use it on the farm all the time for particularly vulnerable veggies, but I only use it at home if there is a serious problem.

_________________my roommate spilled tuna juice on the bathroom floor while he was eating on the toilet! should i bleach the floor or just tear up the tile? - acrVegan Coloradical

In the past I've also used diluted Dr. Bronner's but this year I'm trying out clove oil.

Good luck!

clove oil will kill the plants. it's one of the main ingredients in our non-selective weed elimination products.

i echo the other sentiments about monitoring and eliminating. when watering in the morning i give the leaves good blasts with water to hose off eggs/aphids/etc. aphids can get outta control mighty quick because they ARE BORN PREGNANT. i shiitake you not. they've found secondary embryos inside the existing ones!

beneficial insects are very popular at my workplace, but are expensive. they will control, but not eradicate the problem. since most-(not all) but most pests have a soil stage, i suggest beneficial nematodes:http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=BN700

the great thing about the nematodes is that SO MANY insects have that soil stage. i've used these for flea and tick control.

i also suggest you buy them in a 6 pack to save $, because you need to repeat applications every 8 weeks. you can store them in the fridge too.

keep your gardening space dark at night so moths won't lay their eggs on your leaves. if you cannot cut out the lights, get a row cover to keep moths away.

like kittee mentioned, i'm not a fan of neem oil because it can clog the stomata of the plant. a cheaper solution is hot pepper wax. i also know the community garden makes a slurry of dead insects-(not vegan!) and sprays the plants with them. problem insects won't hang out where they smell dead bugs. i've never tried this.

make your garden inviting to predators of problem insects: toads, frogs, and birds oh my! hummingbirds love insects. wasps are beneficial in the garden, and frogs/toads will happily nom those bugs and slugs.

i also like safer brand products. they do have chemicals, just not as harsh. and i've learned to love sluggo-(iron oxide slug bait) and BT. BT is a bacteria that kills caterpillars. i've lost too many crops of kale and tomatoes in the past to the looper and hornworm. it really works.